1999 3.8 trany leak questions
1999windstar
07-23-2007, 09:39 PM
I posted about a tranny leak earlier. Now the tranny is leaking fluid really bad when being driven. Not when it is stopped. I ve read the posts here, and I think it is coming from between the trany and the motor.
Could this have been caused by the shop that screwed up putting the lines back into the transmission after they flushed it. I found the seal for the upper line going into the tranny missed up, the line was put in so crocked that I couldn't get it out. I had to unscrew the whole fitting out of the tranny, then pry out the clip.
I put both fitting into the tranny and there was now leak for awhile. But now like i said its leaking all over when driven. I took it to the shop that did the flush, before I changed the fitting. They didnit think the leak was coming from the fittings and couldn't tell where it was coming from so they had to add maybe 3 qts. and sad to watch it.
So now i took it to a dealer they say it will cost 2400 to put in a rebuilt. The van is only worth 2500 tradin
I have several question.
#1 Can I replace the seal between the tranny and the motor.
# 2 Can I get the tranny out if I don,t have a lift.
The way to add a cooler is to mount it so that the transmission fluid flows through the in-radiator cooler, then through the auxillary cooler, and back into the transmission.
This is from westwinds post. MY haynes manual says the factory cooler has the fluid running from the tranny to the ax cooler through the radiator and back to the tranny.
Iam wondering if I can change the seal and put on a ax cooler if you guys thing that would solve the problem? If it would be worth the effort? Or should I have it rebuilt?
Could this have been caused by the shop that screwed up putting the lines back into the transmission after they flushed it. I found the seal for the upper line going into the tranny missed up, the line was put in so crocked that I couldn't get it out. I had to unscrew the whole fitting out of the tranny, then pry out the clip.
I put both fitting into the tranny and there was now leak for awhile. But now like i said its leaking all over when driven. I took it to the shop that did the flush, before I changed the fitting. They didnit think the leak was coming from the fittings and couldn't tell where it was coming from so they had to add maybe 3 qts. and sad to watch it.
So now i took it to a dealer they say it will cost 2400 to put in a rebuilt. The van is only worth 2500 tradin
I have several question.
#1 Can I replace the seal between the tranny and the motor.
# 2 Can I get the tranny out if I don,t have a lift.
The way to add a cooler is to mount it so that the transmission fluid flows through the in-radiator cooler, then through the auxillary cooler, and back into the transmission.
This is from westwinds post. MY haynes manual says the factory cooler has the fluid running from the tranny to the ax cooler through the radiator and back to the tranny.
Iam wondering if I can change the seal and put on a ax cooler if you guys thing that would solve the problem? If it would be worth the effort? Or should I have it rebuilt?
RexNfx400
07-26-2007, 12:23 AM
If the transmission is checked and verified to be in good operating order(Extensive road test). I would see no reason to not pull it out and see whats leaking. Once its out, you have to pull the torque converter off the trans. Then pull seal off transmission and inspect bushing in the converter and the support the bushing rides on, on the transmission. Some different possibilties happen next:
The converter hub bushing is worn excessive. Which could damage The stator support (The transmission has to come apart to change support)
The converter hub bushing is worn, but support ok, so replace bushing and seal.
Just the seal is loose on converter hub. Replace seal and ship.
Thats all the normal stuff... Unnormal stuff is:
Torque converter welds fracture and leaks ATF.
Leaks through channel plate bolts into bell housing.
Case fracture.
You only go after these leaks after proper operation(shift timing, shift feel, TCC, egagements, fluid condition, normal temperature) is verified, perfect.
The converter hub bushing is worn excessive. Which could damage The stator support (The transmission has to come apart to change support)
The converter hub bushing is worn, but support ok, so replace bushing and seal.
Just the seal is loose on converter hub. Replace seal and ship.
Thats all the normal stuff... Unnormal stuff is:
Torque converter welds fracture and leaks ATF.
Leaks through channel plate bolts into bell housing.
Case fracture.
You only go after these leaks after proper operation(shift timing, shift feel, TCC, egagements, fluid condition, normal temperature) is verified, perfect.
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